Here are a few other films that I have seen and rated. For some of the films I will write a brief sentence or so on what I thought. Reviewer: Pat Brennan Wild (2014) Rating: 3.5/4 Director: Jean-Marc Vallee Writers: Nick Hornby & Cheryl Strayed Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Michael Huisman - What made this film so strong was Reese Witherspoon's performance. She went above and beyond to connect with and establish the character of Cheryl Strayed, which only further proved why she is one of the more underrated actresses in Hollywood today. Another aspect of the film that I felt was vastly overlooked was the editing. After looking back at this film, it became apparent to me that without the way the entire film was structured, the character of Cheryl would not have come off as powerful as she did. By incorporating the use of flashbacks to help dig deeper into the mind of Cheryl, it allowed me to see how anyone has the ability to overcome the struggles of their past and move towards a new life and a new rebirth. ——————————————– The Fault In Our Stars (2014) Rating: 3/4 Director: Josh Boone Writers: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber (screenplay) & John Green (book) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Tramell, & Willem Dafoe - I decided to watch this film just randomly one day and was very glad that I did. This movie was definitely a surprise for me because I thought it was going to be the same teenage love story that is seen over and over again. I am not afraid to admit that I was wrong on that assumption. With great performances from both Woodley and Elgort, The Fault In Our Stars is a film that takes on the issues of young adults going through the most terrifying and horrific disease known: Cancer. The chemistry between the two is definitely what keeps the film going strong from start to finish. This film shows how the idea of love can overcome any obstacle in its way. Every time you look up to the stars, those that have been lost will be looking down at you and will always be a part of your life. ——————————————– Foxcatcher (2014) Rating: 3.5/4 Director: Bennett Miller Writers: E. Max Frye & Dan Futterman Cast: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Sienna Miller, & Vanessa Redgrave - Bennett Miller is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. With his first two films (Capote, Moneyball), Miller shows he has the ability as a director to create such strong and mesmerizing characters and that continues with Foxcatcher. With three incredible performances from Carell, Tatum and Ruffalo, Foxcatcher easily stands out as one of the top films of 2014. Although there are some moments in the film that progress a little slow, that does not take away from the overall tone that Miller is trying to show. By creating a sense of unease and often moments of silence, the characters within Miller's world help create the themes of power and control that resonate so deep within the story. This film is definitely one to check out. ——————————————– ***GREAT FILM*** Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Rating: 4/4 Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu Writers: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicolas Gincobone, Alexander Dinelaris, & Armando Bo Cast: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis, & Andrea Riseborough - Birdman is one of those films that can spark and influence a new generation of filmmakers. The idea of the whole film being one long tracking shot, paves the way for a new technique and a new idea on what it means to make a film. With strong performances from Keaton, Stone and Norton; Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (along with beautiful cinematography from Emmanuel Lubezki) is able to create this world that allows the audience to move along with the characters, almost as if we are observing each situation like a fly on the wall, moving from scene to scene. The film acts as though it is a play within a play that shows the behind the scenes of what it takes to put on a production of this scale. The main theme of the film seems to be about the redemption of the main character Riggan (Keaton), and his ability to resurrect himself from being out of the spotlight for so long. By batting his alter-ego that seems to follow him everywhere, Riggan tries to not only save the play that he has been working on for so long but also save his life in the process. This film will easily be looked at as one of the more important and influential films to come out in the 21st century. ——————————————–
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Authors:Pat Brennan: Recent Film grad from Temple University with a love for all aspects of film. David Fincher for life. Archives:
November 2016
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